Lecture Notes on Critical Thinking and Questioning Techniques

Introduction

• Current issue: International critical thinking deficit
  • People quickly jump to conclusions
  • Decisions made without thorough research
  • Result in judgments and confrontations

Purpose of Lecture

• Discuss how to ask questions that promote critical thinking
• Introduce two strategies:
  1. Strategy from Brandon Stanton, founder of Humans of New York
  2. Technique from "Ask Powerful Questions, Create Conversations That Matter"

Strategy 1: Brandon Stanton's Spiraling Technique

• Background: Founder of Humans of New York

  • Project: 10,000 portrait stories from NYC
  • Approach: Take photos with meaningful quotes from individuals

• Spiraling Technique

  • Concept of spiraling down in conversation
  • Start with general questions and gradually ask more specific ones
  • Not invasive, maintains natural flow of conversation
  • Promotes deep reflection and narratives

• Application

  • Use Socratic inquiry to teach through questions
  • Specificity enhances the depth of narrative and critical thinking
  • Example: From broad topics like the death penalty to specific cases
  • Follow curiosity paths or threads to explore deeper stories

Strategy 2: Using 'How' and 'What' Instead of 'Why'

• Background: Derived from the book "Ask Powerful Questions"

• The Five Whys Technique

  • Typically used in design thinking
  • Involves asking "why" five times to reach the core of an idea

• Modification of Technique

  • Avoid starting questions with "why"
  • "Why" implies need for rationalization/justification, creating barriers
  • Instead, use "how" or "what" for more open-ended questions

• Benefits

  • Encourages expansive thinking
  • Allows for storytelling and broader explanations
  • Creates an environment for open-minded critical thinking

• Psychological Aspect

  • Reference: Barbara Fredrickson's broaden and build theory
  • Positive state of mind facilitates openness and critical thinking

Conclusion

• Combine spiraling technique with open-ended 'how' and 'what' questions
• Aim to reduce the global critical thinking deficit
• Speaker: Chad Littlefield
• Closing message: "Have an awesome day!"